Source: Sepiciler Undyed Vegetable Tanned Leather Aging Will have a rich patina that gets better with use ![]() Vegetable Tanneed - Chrome Tanned Leather Comparison There is also less machinery, and so less electricity, involved with the vegetable tanning process. While this method of tanning does use quite a bit of water, it does not pollute the environment the way the chromium-based leather tanning process does. However, it does get wonderfully soft and pliant over time, so many manufacturers create shoes, bags, belts, and other long-lived products using this material. It’s usually used for high-end handmade leather goods. Due to the artisanal nature of the tanning process, Vegetable-tanned leather is more expensive than chrome leather. It’s a much less pliable product than chromium-tanned leather, so it’s used where stiffness can be an asset, such as saddlery, holsters, wallets, journals, travelers notebooks, and handbags. A piece of vegetable-tanned leather is truly a one-of-a-kind product.įinally, owing to its artisanal nature, the vegetable tanning process produces some of the sturdiest, most durable leathers available. The original fibers of the animal’s hide can easily be seen, adding to its character. The fragrance is sweet, woody, and rich.Īlso, the natural leather tanning process leaves the leather with unique variations in shade and color. The edges of vegetable-tanned leathers are burnished or turned, meaning this leather is created to last for decades. Usually, this kind of leather is stiff in the beginning but gets more supple with time and use.Īlso, vegetable-tanned leather has that distinctive “leather” aroma, rather than the typical chemical odor of chromium-tanned goods. The long, slow traditional techniques used to process the hides for vegetable-tanned leather means that vegetable-tanned leather goods continue to soften and develop a beautiful patina as they age.įor items made from vegetable tanned leather include saddles, holsters, belts, wallets, journal covers, bags, shoes, and purses, this means they will become even more comfortable the longer you use them. In addition, the mineral chromium is a heavy metal and as such is quite toxic to the environment as well as to the people processing it. While chromium or chrome-tanned leather is cheaper to produce, and the colors stay constant for longer, vegetable-tanned leather has the longevity and beauty only an artisanally-crafted product can sustain.Ĭhrome-tanned leather often has its edges treated with acrylic varnish, causing it to crack, peel, and split after just a few years. Why Vegetable-Tanned Leather is Preferred The vegetable tanning process is a long and artisanal one, taking up to two months to complete, which is why leather is more commonly tanned with minerals like chromium. This soaking process helps to dehydrate the leather, contributing to softness and a nice hand feel. Hides are then placed in a vat containing tannin - in this case, natural tree bark or other organic materials. The "green" or new hide is salted to preserve it then hung in a structure called a beam-house.įrom there, the hide is moved to a liming pit where it is immersed in a natural chemical substance called lime to remove the hair from the hides through dissolution. Vegetable-tanned leather begins immediately after an animal is slaughtered. Vegetable-based oils and waxes are then applied for a tender, malleable finish. ![]() This removes the fur and makes the hide flexible. Vegetable-tanned leather is made by submerging animal hide in a water or saltwater solution. So we're going to dig deep into the leather tanning process. To better understand how vegetable-tanned leather differs from other types of leather products, it’s important to know how it’s created. While the names may sound similar, vegetable-tanned leather is not to be confused with vegan leather, which is not a real leather product at all. ![]() We love using this kind of leather in our range, including for our popular leather journals and leather gifts. Vegetable-tanned leather is made using natural tannins found in organic materials to add a unique look and feel to the animal hide.
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